被动语态的翻译
被动语态在英语中使用非常广泛。凡是在没必要、不愿意说出或不清楚施动者是谁的情况下都使英语被动语态,这是科普类论说文的一大特点。翻译时,某些可以直接译为汉语的被动语态,在多数情况下,需译为主动语态,有时还要补上主语。主要译法如下:
1 译成汉语被动句并保留原文主语
借助汉语中用来表达被动意义的词,如“被、叫、让、由、遭、受、得、为……所、是……的、可以用、加以”等。例如:
1)While the multilateral trading system has a key role to play on the international economic and political landscape,that trading system is designed to enhance,and not reduce,human welfare.(南京大学2010年真题)
参考译文:多边贸易体系在国际经济和政治格局上起到了关键作用,贸易系统被设计出来提高人类的福祉,而不是降低人类的福祉。
2)Free will be enshrined in laws and enforced by courts.
参考译文:自由将会被载入法律,并由法庭执行。2译成有主语的汉语主动句
如果被动句没有动作的发出者,而且表示观点和态度时,可将原文的主语译成宾语,增译“人们、有人、大家、我们”等泛指性主语。例如:
1)As the price goes up,less of the commodity is purchased;a rise in price encourages users to economize.(中国人民大学2004年真题)
参考译文:价格上涨时,人们购买的商品就少了,价格上涨促使用户节约。
2)It is known that the brain shrinks as the body ages,but the effects on mental ability are different from person to person.(中国矿业大学2008年真题)
参考译文:众所周知,大脑随着年龄的增长而萎缩,但是这对智力方面的影响却因人而异。
3 译成无主语的汉语主动句
英语是主语突出型语言,而汉语是主题突出型语言,因而很多英语被动结构可直接译成汉语无主语句。例如:
1)The environmental protection materials,technologies and processes shall be introduced according to the National Standards or sectoral standards.(北京理工大学2008年真题)
参考译文:应该根据国家标准或行业标准引进环保材料、技术和工艺。
2)Non-toxic,harmless,readily degradable and recyclable materials shall be used as the packaging materials,and the materials ingredients of the packaging shall be clearly marked.(北京理工大学2008年真题)
参考译文:无毒、无害、易分解、可回收利用物质应作为包装材料,并应明确列出包装材料成分。
4 译成隐含被动意义的汉语主动句
有些被动结构不译出,也不会引起歧义。例如:
1)One might ask why speculation is permitted when there is so real a danger of loss.(中国人民大学2004年真题)
参考译文:既然投机有很大的带来损失的风险,我们可能要问为什么还会允许进行投机呢。
2)Any large American city is filled with restaurants serving international cooking.(武汉大学2011年真题)
参考译文:任何美国大城市里都有很多国际风味的餐馆。
5 It+被动语态+that从句的译法
这种译法相对固定,有的译为无主句,有的添加泛指主语。建议考生多加背诵,对写作大有裨益。
It is well-known that...众所周知……
It is reported that...据报道……(https://www.daowen.com)
It is learned/said that...据闻……,据说……
It is noticed that...人们注意到……
It is claimed/asserted that...有人主张……
It is demonstrated that...据证实……,已经证明……
It is stressed that...有人强调说……
It is assumed that...假设……
It is presumed that...据推断……
It is supposed that...人们推测……,人们猜测……
It is enumerated that...有人列举出了……
It is rumored that...听说……,谣传……
It was told that...有人说,据说……
It was noted above that...前面已经指出……
It is generally considered that...人们认为……,一般认为……
It is universally accepted/acknowledged that...人们普遍认为……
It is unanimously agreed that...大家一致同意……
It may be said without fear of exaggeration that...可以毫不夸张地说……
It must be admitted that...必须承认……,老实说……
It must be pointed out that...应该指出(的是)……
It should be realized that...我们应该认识到……
It cannot be denied that...不可否认的是……
It has been proved that...已经证明……,已证实……
It has been found that...人们发现……
特别需要指出的是,被动语态往往并不单独出现,考生必须灵活运用以上技巧,从而选取最佳方案。例如:
On the whole such a conclusion can be drawn with a certain degree of confidence,but only if the children be assumed to have had the same attitude towards the test as the other with whom he is being compared,and only if he was not punished by lack of relevant information which they possessed.
总的来说,得出这种结论是有一定把握的,但必须具备两个条件 能够假定这个孩子对测试的态度和与他比较的另一个孩子的态度相同;他也没有因为缺乏别的孩子已掌握的有关知识而被罚。
本句共出现了4个被动结构,但翻译中,除了最后的was not punished by译成被动句外,其余3个都按汉语习惯译成了主动语态。认真思考一下本题,你或许会对被动语态的翻译技巧有更深一些的理解。